School Advisory Council
Meeting
September 15, 2004
In attendance: Headmaster Dan Kennedy, Prof. Robert Lechner,
Ken Cowles, Cadet Kyle Seeger, Cadet Whitney Vosick, Cadet Kate Vasiloff,
Bridget Jones, Cadet Katherine Valdesuso, Jann Vasiloff, Cynthia Wallace, Jim
Young, CSM Matt Collis, Col. Steve Cork, Robert Graham, Anthony Vignocchi
Cindy Wallace called the
meeting to order at 11:40 a.m. Copies of
the preliminary Strategic Plan for Excellence were distributed.
Minutes from the August
meeting were approved as written.
Headmaster’s Report: Mr. Kennedy stated that
enrollment stands at 429; we are approved by the school board for 420; he
anticipates that a few more students will leave. Currently there are 57 on the waiting list
for entry this year or next. Our first
parent/student tour was held on Tuesday, 9/14 which went very well. A copy of the class size list was distributed
(see attached). Class numbers are
excellent due to the hard work of Fran Marx, Guidance Counselor; the district
is very pleased. The drug testing is
under way; there has been positive feedback from everyone including cadets who
are happy that this has been instituted.
So far there have been no positives, only 2 non-negatives due to legally
issued prescription drugs. As of now SMA
is at the top of the list to use the old Sarasota High building for the new
middle school should our charter expansion be approved. The School Board will meet Tuesday, 9/21, to
discuss this during their workshop and a decision will be made in October. Superintendent Norris is not in favor of this
use as he feels that we will be visible competition. There are extensive renovations that need to
be done before occupancy: elevators,
central AC, handicap accessible bathrooms, etc., totaling approximately 5.6
million dollars. If the Board should not approve the use for the SMA middle school
there are other sites under consideration.
One is at Cattlemen and I-75 in a part of what was the Loral building;
approximately 6500 square feet including a cafeteria. He also mentioned the old Chesterfield School
building on Wood and School Avenue although that may not be large enough. Mr. Kennedy stated that no matter where the
site is it must reflect the dignity of our school. The move into South County is very much
alive. A prominent district principal
contacted Mr. Kennedy about heading up the school, and if he decides that it is
the right move for him he will be involved in selecting the site. All is contingent upon the charter expansion
being approved by the School Board. Mrs.
Jones asked how the renovations to the old Sarasota High building would be paid
for. Mr. Kennedy stated that the county
may sell us the building for a nominal fee and do a bond issue to cover the
cost or they may do the bond issue and then we would pay them back on a fee
schedule. There are no capital outlay
funds for new charters so that is one reason that we are expanding our charter
from grades 9-12 to 6-12 so that we have the use of capital outlay funds. Mrs. Vasiloff asked if there was concern that
a middle school would be in such close proximity to a high school. Mr. Kennedy stated that there should be no
problem since the middle school is on a completely different time schedule from
the high school. Additionally, since
middle schoolers do not drive there should be no problem with the parking.
Commandant’s Report: Col. Cork reported no major
problems during the hurricanes. We did
lose some computers over the summer during a particularly bad thunder storm
when the front office took a direct hit of lightening. The purchase of the building is moving
forward. Our Board of Directors has selected
Wacovia Bank from 3 proposals. He is
meeting with our attorney this afternoon to go over the details of the
agreement; the diocese is finalizing the sale agreement as well. A bond issue with a very favorable interest
rate will save SMA approximately $7000/month.
Regarding discipline this year he stated that there is no comparison
between this year and last. This year’s
students are extremely well behaved; he is seeing maybe 2 students per day on
referrals; last year it was 2-3 per period.
He states that the sergeant majors are also reporting better behaved
students. Regarding finances: This year we do not have the start up grant
funding, but we are in good financial shape; we have no outstanding
payments. We have a new health insurance
plan for employees that is saving us about $10,000/year.
Old Business: Discussions involved the preliminary
Strategic Plan for Excellence. It was
noted that the Vision and Mission are not what were previously approved nor the
ones that appear in the current Cadet Manual; it was noted that these need to
be changed. Regarding the statistical
portion of the report: Mr. Cowles
questioned the inconsistency between the percentage goal for 2008 in bold and
the one listed under “No Child Left Behind”; 70% versus 65%. Mr. Lechner stated that he believes that the
70% is one set by the Sarasota School District whereas the 65% is the federal
mandate. Cindy stated that the goals are
set for the schools. The increments
throughout the years are arbitrary as long as the final goal for 2008 is
met. Mr. Vignocchi noted that FCAT
testing and preparation does not begin in high school and that the students
should be learning before they get to us; Mr. Cowles stated that a personal
experience with his elementary age child leads him to believe that perhaps more
time was being spent on FCAT preparation than the basics. Mrs. Jones stated that FCAT prep encompasses
the Sunshine Standards so that should not be an issue. Mr. Kennedy pointed out that the total
student population was broken out to reflect Hispanic, low income, ESE, etc.,
but there was no category for “struggling student,” yet this is the category
which needs to show 50% improvement year to year in order to meet the No Child
Left Behind mandate.
Regarding the 9 goals: Mr. Kennedy stated that we must do what is
checked by the district, but we are free to personalize them to fit our
school. We can also add goals to each
category. We need also to look at other
goals to set for SMA, but keep the number attainable. It was stated that at least one goal must be
new from previous years and must involve the community if we are to meet the
criteria for Five Star. Mr. Lechner had
previously asked the faculty for their input regarding goals, he compiled their
responses and distributed those (see attached).
Cindy asked everyone to review the goals and e-mail her with suggestions
and comments prior to the next meeting so that we can move forward with
approval of the SPE in a timely manner.
Mr. Lechner requested that if anyone is adding a goal to please write it
in strategy form in keeping with what is already done. He stated that he would attend another SPE
meeting at the Landings on 9/17. Cindy
suggested that SAC meet before its October meeting in order to work exclusively
on SPE; it was agreed that we will meet on 9/29 from 11 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
New Business: Madalyn Andrews asked about progress on the
agenda books; Mr. Kennedy said that he was meeting on Friday with the gentleman
from PRIDE, Inc., regarding the books, and that this company uses correctional
inmates to manufacture the books.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jann Vasiloff, Recording
Secretary